The government has undertaken projects to build bridges and extra jetties in several routes in Patuakhali to ease the sufferings caused by troubling ferry services, according to Roads and Highways Department in the district.
Communication in the district continued to be painful particularly in monsoon with the jetties and pontoons getting submerged during high tides, obstructing vehicles to get on or off the ferries, locals alleged.
The troublesome journey not only affect the district inhabitants but also seriously disrupts the movement of the tourists also, who come to visit the Kuakata beach, according to locals.
There are a total of eight ferry terminals, each having a jetty, in Patuakhali. Of these three are on Patuakhali-Kuakata route, at Mahipur on River Mahipur, Hajipur on River Hajipur and Kalapara on River Kalapara.
The rest of the terminals are at Baga on River Baga on Patuakhali-Baufal route, Lebukhali on River Lebukhali on Patuakhali-Barisal route, at Haridevpur on River Galachipa on Patuakhali-Galachipa route, Amtali on River Paira on Patuakhali-Barguna route and Baroitala on River Baroitala on Barguna-Patharghata route.
Between June and October all these jetties go under water during the high tides especially on days when the new moon and full moon come near.
'During the months and many times in November also the jetties submerge twice a day and remain under water at least for four hours,' said Golam Mawla Dulu, secretary of Patuakhali bus-mini bus owners association.
'The situation repeats at least seven different days a month during this period,' he said.
'Buses, lorries and all other vehicles full with people and cargo are stuck at both the banks for hours, waiting for the ebb tide to start when ferry services resume,' he added.
Those concerned with the situation suggested bridges as a feasible alternative while some suggested making of more jetties at a higher level to avoid monsoon submersion.
Shakhawat Hossain, executive engineer of the roads and highways department in the district, told New Age that the government had plans to build bridges over three rivers on Patuakhali-Kuakata route and one on Patuakhali-Barisal route.
The executive committee of the National Economic Council had already given approval to three of these, he informed.
Of these, construction of the bridge over River Mahipur had already begun while tenders for those to be built over River Hajipur and River Kalapara had been floated, he said.
Feasibility studies for building the fourth one, over River Lebukhali, was going on, he added.
'The plans have been taken on a priority basis,' he said, adding that these were among the busiest routes in the district.
Shakhawat Hossain also informed that they had recently sent a proposal to their higher authorities for adding one more jetty to each of the three ferry terminals, namely Kalapara, Hajipur and Lebukhali, at a raised height.
'The Tk 1.5 crore proposal includes the repairs of the existing jetties also,' he said.
Source : New Age
